Our Experiences with Scope Creep
Let's talk about one of the creepiest parts of running a business... scope creep. 😉
Scope creep is when the scope of a project changes, and a project gets additional tasks or deliverables added on to a project outside the existing "scope" of work. As a result, the work starts to extend or "creep" past what was initially discussed and agreed on. Get it? Scope Creep?
Anyway, scope creep can lead to missed deadlines, financial losses, and overall dissatisfaction.
When deliverables for a project are not clearly defined. It can turn what should be an amazing project to somewhat complex very quickly!
Scope Creep is Not ALL Bad
Scope creep sounds awful for business owners or service providers, but it's really not that bad. It can be an opportunity to learn how to set boundaries in your business or revisit your current processes. If you're struggling with scope creep, ask yourself these questions:
What does your onboarding process look like?
What does your contract look like?
Were you clear in communicating throughout the project?
I definitely ran into some issues when I started Blades Creative. I mean, there’s no handbook on any of this, it’s trial and error and following your intuition, but after a few years, I asked myself these exact questions.
The way I look at it is that sometimes you need to be introspective. If you’re struggling with scope creep, take it as an opportunity to reflect on your business, grow within yourself, and streamline your processes!
The Blades Creative Experience
Change in a project or contract is inevitable at times. Here are a couple of ways I experience scope creep at Blades Creative and how it can be harmful to the Blades Creative team and the client:
A client can't articulate their brand story or what they need.
A client requests more revisions than allocated in the contract.
A client has a hard time giving productive and clear feedback or takes too long to give feedback.
A client can't articulate their brand story or what they need.
Business owners are so excited to dive headfirst into their business that they book a session with me. However, when I send them our preliminary questionnaire, they struggle to tell me about their business.
Of course, they can tell me what they do. That part is usually easy, but the "why" is a little trickier.
We ran into this a few times. So now, we send over an onboarding questionnaire, which has benefited our clients and us so much! The goal of the onboarding questionnaire is to set the tone for our potential partnership. Here, we’ll ask questions like:
How long have you been in business?
Do you have any employees?
How far along are you in the branding process?
Typically, if the client is in the early stages of their business or they don’t have answers to too many of the questions, they’ll stop filling out the form, and we may even have a conversation about how they may not be ready - which is totally fine! Sometimes the timing isn’t right, and it’s best to know that before there’s a contract in place.
However, if we do finalize the contract and move forward with the design process, there are additional meetings, a branding questionnaire, and a branding workshop.
If the client doesn’t have a defined story or purpose, the designs may not resonate in the way they wanted, leading to more meetings, longer conversations, more revisions, etc.
During our brand workshop meeting or in our branding questionnaire, we’ll ask questions like:
What is one thing you want your customer to say or feel after working with you?
If your business were edible, what would it taste like?
If your business had a scent, what would it smell like?
While a little different, these questions help us capture your energy in our logo design. Check out our most recent blog for a behind-the-scenes peek at our branding process.
If clients don’t have a defined story or purpose, they’ll try to piece together answers that won't accurately represent their dream business. This disconnect can create more work as the project moves forward.
This leads to our next scope creep experience - additional revisions.
A client requests more revisions than allocated in the contract.
We're working through our drafts, and now the client is requesting more changes than we initially allocated for.
Change is unavoidable. Needs change, a client may have new inspiration; they may want to experiment with colors more, etc. This is why we have a detailed onboarding process, branding homework, branding workshops, and set revisions to ensure that we can stay true to your story from start to finish.
However, if we do more than the allocated revisions or start over in the process, the client can take on additional costs, stress, and it's no longer the creative and seamless experience that we've worked so hard to create.
Through the years, I learned that there are so many reasons for scope creep - the client is looking to get more work than discussed, there are too many hands in the pot, maybe the main decision-maker wasn’t involved, or my least favorite, someone doesn’t trust the process.
I know how difficult it can be to take the leap and trust someone to tell your business’s story. It’s something you’ve poured your heart and soul into, and now you’re sharing it with someone else. It’s easy to fall into distrust or micromanagement mode, but remember, we have been doing this for years and we love this stuff. We know the questions to ask and conversations to have to truly learn about you and your brand.
Working with a branding agency is an exciting and fun step to take in your business, but if we’re not careful, it can become costly, time-consuming, and a frustrating experience (and no one wants that!).
Through this entire process, we're partners. We're here to help tell your story, so it's important to come to the branding table with an understanding of who your bsiness is.
So, take time to reflect. Where do you envision it going? How do you want it to make your customers feel? The branding and your brand story is the fun part so think beyond the monetary goals or the tasks that take up your to-do list. You are pouring so much of yourself into this business; give yourself the time to really hone in on what you want and what you want to say. Then, when you’re ready, we will be too!
Of course, your brand may change and evolve, but ensure you have an idea of who you are so that when we do work together, we can create magic. ✨